Sam Donaldson Biography
Sam Donalson is an American former journalist, television news pundit, and panelist who was born and brought up in El Paso, Texas, United States of America. He is widely known as the ABC News White House Correspondent (1977–1989 and 1998–99) and as a panelist and later co-anchor of the network’s Sunday program, This Week. He then resumed from 1998 to 1999.
Sam was employed as a Washington reporter by ABC News in October 1967, covering the two major political party conventions in 1968, and began to anchor the Saturday and Sunday newscasts of the 11:00 p.m. network the following year.
Donaldson is a recipient of numerous awards, including 12 Emmy Awards and 3 George Foster Peabody Awards. He is also the author of two books, Hold On, Mr. President (1987) and Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game (1992).
Donaldson began his career in journalism in the 1950s, working for several radio stations and newspapers in Texas. In 1961, he joined KRLD-TV in Dallas and later moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV).
10 Quick Facts About Sam Donaldson
- Name: Samuel Andrew Donaldson Jr.
- Age: 90 years old
- Birthday: 11 March
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former Journalist, Television News Pundit, and Panelist
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: Not Known
- Net worth: $50 Million
Sam Donaldson Age
Sam is 90 years old. He was born on 11 March 1934, in El Paso, Texas, United States. He celebrates his birthday on 11 March every year and his birth sign is Pisces.
Sam Donaldson Height
Donaldson stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m).
Sam Donaldson Weight
Donaldson Weighs 73 kg (160.6 lbs).
Early Life and Education
Sam Donaldson was born on March 11, 1934, in El Paso, Texas. He grew up on a family farm in Chamberino, New Mexico. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a schoolteacher.
Donaldson attended New Mexico Military Institute and Texas Western College (now known as the University of Texas at El Paso). At Texas Western, he served as station manager of the campus radio station KTEP and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
After graduating from college, Donaldson worked as a radio announcer in El Paso and Albuquerque. In 1960, he joined NBC News as a television news producer. He later worked as a reporter for NBC in Washington, D.C.
In 1967, Donaldson joined ABC News. He quickly rose through the ranks, and in 1977 he became the network’s chief White House correspondent. He held this position until 1988 and again from 1998 to 1999.
Donaldson is known for his tough but fair interviewing style. He has interviewed some of the most powerful people in the world, including every U.S. president from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. He is also a recipient of numerous awards, including 12 Emmy Awards and 3 George Foster Peabody Awards.
Donaldson retired from full-time work in 2009, but he continues to be active in the media. He is a frequent guest on television and radio shows, and he writes a column for The Huffington Post.
Rise to Fame
Sam Donaldson rose to fame as a White House correspondent for ABC News. He was known for his tough but fair interviewing style, and he quickly earned a reputation as one of the most respected journalists in the country.
One of Donaldson’s most famous interviews was with President Richard Nixon in 1977. The interview took place shortly after Nixon resigned from office, and Donaldson pressed Nixon on a number of controversial issues, including the Watergate scandal. The interview was widely praised, and it helped to cement Donaldson’s reputation as a tough but fair journalist.
Donaldson continued to cover the White House for ABC News for many years. He interviewed every U.S. president from Nixon to George W. Bush, and he was known for his ability to get tough answers from even the most evasive politicians.
In addition to his work as a White House correspondent, Donaldson also hosted the Sunday morning news show This Week from 1998 to 2009. He was known for his lively and informative interviews, and he helped to make This Week one of the most popular Sunday morning news shows in the country.
Donaldson retired from full-time work in 2009, but he continues to be active in the media. He is a frequent guest on television and radio shows, and he writes a column for The Huffington Post.
Donaldson is a living legend of American journalism. His work has had a profound impact on the way we understand the
Sam Donaldson Family, Parents
Donaldson was born to his parents Chloe Donaldson and Samuel Donaldson Sr. His mother Chloe, worked as a school teacher at a local school located in their hometown while his father was a hardworking and dedicated farmer.
Sam Donaldson Wife
Donaldson is currently married to his current wife Sandra Martorelli. The couple married in December 2014. They together live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was previously married to Patricia Oates from 1954 to 1962, Billie Kay Butler from 1963 to 1980, and Janice C. Smith from 1983 to 2014.
Sam Donaldson Children
Donaldson has been blessed with four adult- children from his previous marriages. He has three sons named Samuel Donaldson III, Thomas Donaldson, and Robert Donaldson, and a daughter named Jennifer Donaldson.
Sam Donaldson’s Net Worth
Donaldson has an estimated net worth of $50 million dollars as of 2023. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a former journalist, television news pundit, and panelist. Through his various sources of income, Sam has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Facts: Everything You Need to Know About Sam Donaldson
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Sam.
Sam Donaldson Wiki
- Full Names: Samuel Andrew Donaldson Jr.
- Popular As: Sam Donaldson
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Former Journalist, Television News Pundit, and Panelist
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: White
- Religion: Catholicism
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Sam Donaldson Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 90 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Date of Birth: 11 March 1934
- Place of Birth: El Paso, Texas, USA
- Birthday: March 11th
Sam Donaldson Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
- Weight: 73 kg (160.6 lbs)
- Eye Color: Hazel
- Hair Color: Gray
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Sam Donaldson Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Samuel Donaldson Sr.
- Mother: Chloe Hampson
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife/Spouse: Married to Sandra Martorelli
- Dating / Girlfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Sons (Samuel, Robert, Jennifer and Thomas Donaldson) and Daughter (Jennifer Donaldson)
Sam Donaldson’s Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $50 Million
- Source of Income: Former Journalist, Television News Pundit, and Panelist
Sam Donaldson Cancer
Sam had a melanoma removed from a lymph node in 1995. He has been an active supporter of cancer research since then, and chairman emeritus of the advisory board of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
Sam Donaldson’s Missing Tooth
In February 2020, Sam appeared on CNN with Chris Cuomo who was interviewing Sam about his career and his Bloomberg endorsement at that time. Chris was so happy and excited to finally interview Sam because he always viewed Sam as a mentor.
The interview went quite well and Sam laughed a little in one part of the interview and every viewer noticed his missing front Tooth. However, Donaldson didn’t spill any information about his missing front tooth.
Sam Donaldson Ranch
According to reliable sources, Sam owns a luxurious ranch located in New Mexico. In 2004, the Ranch headlined the news after a young man confirmed that he shot and killed his family on Sam’s New Mexico Ranch. Cody Posey was arrested on July 7, 2004, because of the crime. He was later convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter.
Sam Donaldson Political Party
It was confirmed that Donaldson covered every major political party event and convention that was held from 1964 to 2012. However, he didn’t cover the Republican convention that was held by various prominent leaders in 1992.
Sam Donaldson Awards Accomplishments and Achievements
Sam Donaldson is a highly decorated journalist who has received numerous awards for his work. Here are some of his most notable accomplishments:
- 12 Emmy Awards
- 3 George Foster Peabody Awards
- 2 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards
- 1 Paul White Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association
- 1 Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club
- 1 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Press Foundation
Sam Donaldson Contacts
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